majorcrotchgrab | 004 || video/action for National Park;

[The feed starts with Raikov looking rather proud of himself. He's sitting on a bench inside the park. A Butterfree can be seen over his shoulder chattering away with Katya, who's sitting on her trainer's head.]

Guess I'm not so bad at this trainer thing as I thought. I got off my ass and started traveling again - as nice as staying in Goldenrod was... I'll probably end up going back eventually. Also Pasha finally evolved from that cocoon form of his and the egg that I bought hatched. As much as I love my bugs, I feel a bit safer having a Growlithe around. And he's quite handsome. My compliments to the breeder.

[The Growlithe in question is off screen resting at Raikov's feet. The Butterfree lets out a sad sound, causing Raikov to reach back and pat him on the head. The next thing he says is in Russian and it takes him a bit to properly speak it. So far that's the one part he hates about this place: He actually has to concentrate to speak in his native tongue.]

/You're just as handsome as he is, Pasha. Don't worry./

[Pasha coos, nuzzling himself against his hand. Raikov lets a gentle smile slip before he returns his attention back to his Gear, his expression turning back to his usual stoic-but-somehow-cocky look.]

... Oh, yes. I've been meaning to ask. I heard of an item that stops evolution. An... Ever Stone, I think it was called? Does anyone know where to locate one?

[Because he checked out what Joltiks evolve into and he'd much rather keep his little fluffball this way forever.]

I still have a bit before I need one but... the sooner, the better.

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[It pertains to Raikov so it is important.]

Soviet. But yes, I am.

[More Soviets! The last Russia who was here was from that period, too. France beams.]

It's been ages since I've run into someone from your country. The last person here also had a pokemon named Pasha; it's quite a coincidence.

... What was their name?

[He wants t make sure it wasn't another version of himself.]

[Ah, it's that time again for France to explain the nature of his existence.]

It was actually your nation, Soviet Russia. In the world I come from, all countries also exist in forms similar to humans, although we don't work biologically the same. I myself am the Republic of France.

... And how exactly does that work? You have thousands of little people living on your body?

[Because he finds the idea of people claiming they're countries to be insulting to said countries. You'd think he'd learn from being in this insane place to pretty much believe anything.]

[This is definitely not the worst reaction France has gotten to his explanations.]

Oh, no, nothing so absurd as that! We're more like embodiments or personifications of the state and beliefs of the people. A kind of looking-glass reflection, if you will. No one has ever been able to qualify how or why we exist anymore than we can answer the question of the meaning of life.

Uhuh... I suppose that's a bit easier to swallow than you being the country. But if you exist, how does the physical country exist at the same time?

The physical country is what you likely think of as a country: the land, the people, languages, cultures, philosophies. I, and those like me, are reflections of that. For example, age will reflect how advanced our country is, if it is in it's developing stages, prime, or decline. As long as a country exists, so will the corresponding nation like myself and visa versa.

[His smile quirks slightly.]

That's the theory anyways. We haven't always understood ourselves in this fashion, nor is there a uniform consensus on how we work.

Okay, that makes a bit more sense. Still hard to believe but... with this place, I shouldn't really be surprised by anything.

At least it shows I have good taste if I chose the same name as the representative of my country.

This place can be a bit shocking at times.

[France smiles with no small amount of private fondness.]

It is excellent taste. I do have to say, you yourself don't look entirely dissimilar from your nation. You both have the same colour hair.

[Oh, now you've piqued his interest, France.]

Really...? I do hope they didn't get harassed for it. People think they're being funny when they call you old, despite always having this hair color. It's insulting.

[France shakes his head, slightly rueful.]

Oh, no, not at all. People don't generally go out of their way to harass him these days. Maybe we did when we were all a lot younger, but we have all made our living out of harassing each other one way or another. Now, insulting: that's politics.

[Odd that the Motherland would be a guy but whatever.]

He's lucky then on that front.

Oh-

What kind of Pokemon was his Pasha?

[Lucky or intimidating, same thing.]

[France squints slightly, trying to remember and not mix up the versions of Russia who have been here.]

I believe it was a Teddiursa, although I can't say much else on that. We never traveled together while he was here, so I didn't get to interact with his pokemon.

[Time to check the Pokedex! Raikov smirks at the entry.]

Heh... A bear. A fitting stereotype.

Well, you certainly have me interested in the man. Did he have a proper given name?

We all have human names that we use on occasion. He goes by Ivan Braginsky usually, which I understand is quite short and nondescript. But, being that we aren't born of anyone, the truncated name makes some sense.

Apparently heritage and hair color isn't the only thing he and I share in common... but Ivan is a fairly common name back home.

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